PH advances nuclear energy goals with South Korean partnerships

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PARTNERSHIPS advocating for energy security were among those signed between Manila and Seoul during South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s state visit to the Philippines this month.

At least three partnerships, mainly to assure that the use of electricity from nuclear power plants will be safe and thriving in the country, were borne out of the said event.

The partnerships are also expected to expand South Korea’s influence on the Philippines beyond music, films, television shows and pop culture.

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First among these is the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) with its memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Doosan Enerbility Co. Ltd., to explore strategic collaborations on developing low-carbon energy projects in the Philippines.

PARTNERSHIPS TO ACHIEVE ENERGY SECURITY. Meralco’s MOUs with Doosan Enerbility Co., Ltd. and Samsung C&T Corporation were among the partnerships advo-cating for energy security signed during the recent state visit of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. The partnerships are in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s push for nuclear energy development as part of exploring clean and sustainable energy options for the Philippines.

The partnership will focus on several key initiatives, such as the potential deployment of nuclear power facilities in the country, including the rehabilitation of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP).

The MOU will also study the use of small modular reactors (SMRs) to help meet the country’s growing power demand and achieve long-term energy security.

At present, nuclear energy plants considered as SMR are those with power output of up to 300 megawatts (MW)

Meralco and Doosan will also work together on the possible deployment of greenhouse gas reduction equipment such ammonia co-firing technology for aging thermal power plants.

The partnership also gears up for the possible development and supply of gas turbine for combined cycle power projects of Meralco’s subsidiaries, with Doosan meant to serve as the engineering, procurement and construction contractor for such projects.

“…By working together on transformative projects, this collaboration will contribute to the modernization of the country’s energy infrastructure and help ensure a stable and long-term supply of clean, reliable power. We are committed to being a strong and dependable partner to the Philippine power sector, as supporting its continued growth and development,” said Yeonin Jung, Doosan Enerbility vice chairman, in a recent statement.

Meanwhile, Manuel V. Pangilinan, Meralco chairman and chief executive officer, said in a separate statement that “partnering with reputable and dependable companies like Doosan, aligns well with our pursuit to continuously explore innovative energy solutions that we can adopt as we work towards ensuring availability of sufficient, affordable and reliable power to meet our country’s long-term goals.

Strategic collaborations

As Meralco is keen on pursuing the use of nuclear energy and overall security in the Philippines, it also signed a separate MOU with Samsung C&T Corp. Engineering & Construction Group (Samsung C&T).

PROMOTING NUCLEAR ENERGY ADOPTION. Meralco has partnered with Samsung C&T Corporation to advance the adoption of nuclear energy projects in the Philip-pines. Leading the ceremonial signing of the memorandum of understanding are Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Ronnie L. Aperocho (left) and Samsung C&T Corporation President for Global Operations Jungwook Kim.

Under the MOU, Meralco and Samsung C&T will share and discuss technical design and capabilities of nuclear technology, alongside the prevailing regulatory framework, energy landscape and necessary grid infrastructure.

The two companies will also explore the potential roll-out of a pilot demonstration project and other opportunities for nuclear power plant development.

The MOU also signifies Samsung C&T’s plans to actively engage on construction of large nuclear power plants projects and SMR projects in Philippines.

“Through this MOU, Meralco stands to gain a comprehensive understanding of the critical aspects of nuclear energy development that will ensure that our future decisions are well-informed and aligned with international best practices. This aligns well with Meralco’s continuous efforts to work with global knowledge and technology partners to help us in our transition towards more diversified and sustainable energy sources,” said Ronnie Aperocho, Meralco executive vice president and chief operating officer.

New energy sources

Meralco’s partnerships with these South Korean firms will support the government’s push to diversify the country’s power mix.

In fact, the Philippine government, through the Department of Energy (DOE), also signed a separate MOU with the Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co. Ltd. (KHNP) that will result in various cooperation in the field of energy.

The DOE said the MOU will generate critical information to guide the Philippine government’s decision-making process, not only on the BNPP but also in exploring other nuclear technologies and potential alternative sites for nuclear energy development.

ACCELERATING NUCLEAR ENERGY DEVELOPMENT. The memorandum of understanding between Meralco and Samsung C&T Corp. which aims to accelerate the integration of nuclear energy in the Philippine power mix was presented by (L-R) Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Christina Aldeger Roque, Meralco Head of Business Development Andrew Jason B. Tan, Samsung C&T President and Chief Executive Officer Se-chul Oh, Meralco Chief Operating Officer Ronnie L. Aperocho and Deputy Prime Minister for Economy Sang-mok Choi during the Philippines-Korea Business Forum last October 7, 2024.

“The signing of this MOU builds on the strong foundation of energy cooperation between the two countries. For the Philippines, it is a continuation of our efforts to enhance energy security, as outlined in the Philippine Energy Plan (PEP), said DOE Secretary Raphael Lotilla, in an earlier statement.

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The DOE added the agreement also allows South Korean firms to collaborate with the Philippine government to conduct a comprehensive technical and economic feasibility study on the potential rehabilitation of the BNPP

The agency also emphasized that such resulting study will play a key role in assessing the feasibility, safety and sustainability of various nuclear energy options with all costs associated to be fully shouldered by KHNP while the Philippine government is under no legal obligation to proceed with the rehabilitation of the BNPP or to engage KHNP based on the study’s findings.

The DOE also assured the study is exploratory in nature and any subsequent actions will still be subject to further evaluation by the government.

The feasibility study is set to start in January 2025 and will be carried out in two phases with the first one aimed to assess the current condition of the BNPP and its components while the second phase will evaluate whether the plant can be refurbished using the most optimal model.

Should the findings from the first phase determine that proceeding to the next phase is not advisable, KHNP may recommend alternative options, including the construction of a conventional plant or the development of SMRs.

The DOE said such alternatives will be presented as viable paths forward, offering flexibility in advancing the country’s nuclear energy agenda, based on the results of the initial phase.

Expanding energy mix

At present, the Philippines aims to have its first nuclear power plants operational by 2032, with an initial capacity of 1,200 MW, expanding to 2,400 MW by 2035 and reaching 4,800 MW by 2050, as outlined in the PEP.

Fresh from the signing of nuclear related partnerships with South Korea, the Philippines is also set to host the inaugural Philippine International Nuclear Supply Chain Forum (PINSCF) 2024 next month.

The event scheduled on November 13 to 15 is expected to bring together a diverse group of stakeholders to discuss the latest innovations and best practices in the nuclear energy industry.

The DOE also emphasized that countries with extensive experience in nuclear energy, such as the United States, Canada, France, Japan and South Korea are also set to share their technologies, expertise and best practices in the field during the event.

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